He teaches writing at the University of California, Berkeley. Ryan holds an M.A. in English literature from University College London, an M.F.A. in fiction from New York University, and a TESOL Certificate from UC Berkeley. He teaches research & composition courses and creative writing for the College Writing Programs at UC Berkeley, and is affiliated with the Haas School of Business where he teaches business communication. He co-facilitates Cal’s interdisciplinary Lecturer Teaching Fellows Program and served as the Program Coordinator for the UC Berkeley Summer Creative Writing Program.

Ryan is one of the co-hosts of the long-running Babylon Salon quarterly reading series in San Francisco. Nominated for the Pushcart Prize, his work is published or forthcoming in LA Weekly, Joyland Magazine, Opium Magazine, The Modern Spectator and Painted Bride Quarterly, among other publications. He lives in Oakland.